Method of making fibers



A. R. FULLER.

METHOD OF MAKING FIBERS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10, 1920.

Patenfed Oct.

UNITED STATES ALLEN REED FULLER, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD OF MAKING FIBERS.

Specification of Letters Patent. i

PatentedOct. 2c, 1920.

Application filed February 10. 1920. Serial No. 357,576.

To a] Z 21' 7: 0 m it may concern Be it known that I, ALLEN R. FULLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts. have invented an Impror'ed Method of Making Fibers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the artof manufacturing artificial fibers, particularly artificial silk fibers. and it has for its object to provide an improved method of making fibers of this kind.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of an apparatus for use in practising my new method.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

, My new method consists of delivering a solution of cellulose Xanthate (viscose), or any other suitable material, into a revolving vessel or container having a side wall made with small openings through it through which the viscose is forced in very fine streams by centrifugal force imparted to the viscose by the rotary motion of the vessel. As these fine streams of viscose leave the vessel they are coagulated, preferably by a coagulating gas which may be hot air, chemical vapors, or sprays of a suitable liquid.

Fig. 1 shows an apparatus suitable for carying out the above described method, 1 representing a shaft supported in Vertical position by bearings 2 and carrying near its lower end a bevel gear 3 driven by a bevel gear 4 fast on the armature shaft of an electric motor 51. The motor 51 thus drives the shaft 1 at a high rate of speed through the gears 4 and 3. At its upper end the shaft 1 has fastened to it a vessel or container 5 constructed with a cylindrical side wall made with a multiplicity of fine holes, No. 7 on assembly drawing, leading from the interior to the exterior of the vessel.

7 end of a pipe 8 from which a solution of lVithin this vessel 5 is arranged the lower cellulose xanthate (viscose), or other suitable material, is continuously delivered into vessel 5 as indicated in Fig. 2. Upon entering the vessel 5 the viscose is rotated by and with the vessel and is piled up against the inner side of wall 6 through the holes 7 of which it is forced in very fine streams as indicated in both Figs. 1 and 2 by thee dotted arrows 4.0.

The vessel 5 is arranged within a housing 9 which may be made from sheet metal, said housing being connected at its top by a pipe 10 with the outlet of an air heater 11. The inlet of heater 11 is connected by a pipe 12 with the discharge of a blower 13 whose shaft 14: carries a pulley 15 driven through a belt 16 by a pulley 17 fast on the armature shaft 18 of an electric motor 19.

When the apparatus is in operation the blower 13 forces air through heater 11 and pipe 10 into the housing 9 down through which said air passes to outlets 20 near the lower end of said housing. As will be clear the fine streams of viscose enter this current of hot air immediately upon discharging from the holes 7 and are thereby c0- agulated and converted into dry fibers, said fibers falling to the floor of chamber 9 from which they may be removed through 0ne or more doorways 21 provided in the lower portion of the housing.

The motor 51, gears 3 and 4:, and most of the shaft 1, are inclosed within another sheet metal housing 22 arranged within the outer housing 9.

The method of making fibers above described is simple and inexpensive and has the further important advantage that the production of fibers is continuous, viscose being supplied to vessel 5 from pipe 8 at the same rate that it is discharged from the vessel through the holes 7. It is also a feature of advantage that the viscose is heated to some extent just prior to its entrance into the vessel 5,. and while within the latter, which accelerates coagulation of the viscose when discharged therefrom.

Other means than that herein shown may be employed to cause centrifugal force to propel the viscose through a fiber forming aperture, and it is also within the scope of my invention to use a viscous material which w1ll coagulate in ordinary atmosphere.

)Vhat I claim is:

1. The method of making fibers from a viscous material such as a solution of cellulose Xanthate (viscose), or any other suitable material, which consists in the employment of centrifugal force-to propel said solution, or

material, through a fiber forming aperture and in applying a coagulating agent to said solution, or material, immediately upon its discharge from said aperture.

2. The method of making fibers from a viscous material such as a solution of cellulose xanthate (viscose), or any other suitable ma- I a i,

terial, which consists in the emplo ment of centrifugal force to propel said so ution, or material, through a fiber forming aperture and in subjecting said solution, or material, to the action of a coagulatingagent immedi-' ately upon its discharge from said aperture.

3. The method of makin fibers from a viscous material'sucli as a so ution of cellulose xanthate viscose), or any other suitable material, wh ch consists in the employment of centrifugal force to propel said solution, or

material, through a fiber forming aperture directl into a coagulating atmosphere.

4:. T e method of making fibers from a vis cous material such as a solution of cellulose xanthate (viscose), or anv other suitable material, which consists in the employment of centrifugal force to propel said solution, or material, threugh a fiber forming aperture and to discharge said solution, or material to the viscose means of a revolving vessel.

- 6. The method of making fiber for textilepurposes from a viscous material such as'cellulose xanthate (viscose), or any other suitable material, by the action of centrifugal force, the centrifugal force being imparted to the viscose by means of a revolving vessel having a perforated wall to which vessel the viscose is continuously supplied and from which vessel the viscose is discharged through the perforations of the wall thereof by centrifugal force. .7. The method of making fiber for textile purposes from a viscous material such as cellulose xanthate (viscose), or any other suitable material, which consists in continuously supplying viscose to a revolving vessel having a perforated wall through the perforations of which the viscoseis discharged by centrifugal force in fine streams which are immediately coagulated by a coagulating gas surrounding said vessel.

In'testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

ALLEN REED FULLER.

Witnesses:

HERFORD N. Emo'r'r, RAYMOND M. HUMPHRIES. 

